Jeff Borris, the veteran MLB agent who is trying to unionize the UFC, said he will introduce two advisory boards, one made up of MMA agents and another of UFC fighters, this week.
Borris, who announced plans in August to form a union for UFC fighters, would not name the board members last week but said he expected to have about five agents and nine fighters, both men and women, on the boards.
“I am optimistic the union will come into being sometime during 2017, where I will collectively bargain on behalf of the fighters to get the many things they need,” he said.
Borris is trying to get the signatures of 180 UFC fighters, or 30 percent of the about 600 UFC fighters under contract, to trigger a union election.
Earlier this month, The Hollywood Reporter reported “some 90 UFC fighters banded together” behind Borris’ effort, a number that drew the attention of some MMA insiders.
Borris wouldn’t say last week how many fighters he had signed up. “I need 180. I am not commenting on how many I have or don’t have,” Borris said. Asked whether he had 90 fighters signed, Borris said, “That is nothing more than speculation.”
If he does get 30 percent, that could start a process rolling at the National Labor Relations Board, but it could take two or three years to resolve if the UFC chooses to fight unionization, said Bill Gould, Stanford Law School professor and former chairman of the NLRB.
“Thirty percent is the threshold to hold an election,” Gould said. But before holding an election, the NLRB would have to resolve the question of whether UFC fighters are employees or independent contractors.
Only employees can unionize. The UFC contends the fighters are contractors, while Borris says they are employees.
The NLRB could determine the answer to that question in a matter of months, Gould said. But if the NLRB decides to hold the election and unionization wins, the UFC could “refuse to bargain and they could appeal that to the court of appeals,” which would add time to the process.
Borris admits there is little chance the UFC would recognize a union. “They will not,” he said. “Well, I cannot say that with absolute certainty, but all early signs are they are not interested in dealing with a union.”
The UFC declined to comment for this story.
> LANDMARK LANDS BOSH: Landmark Sports founder and NBA agent Rob Pelinka has signed Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh for representation.
Bosh had been represented by CAA Sports but left that agency in late September.
The Heat announced in September that it was unable to clear Bosh to participate in basketball activities after a preseason physical. The Heat did not disclose the problem, but it has been widely reported that Bosh is suffering from blood clots.
Pelinka is expected to work closely with Bosh to try to get him back on the court.
Pelinka may be best known as the agent to recently retired Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. He also represents Cleveland Cavaliers power forward-center Channing Frye, and helped him return to the court after he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, a condition that forced him to sit out the 2012-13 NBA season with the Phoenix Suns.
> DESMOND TO CAA: CAA Sports has signed MLB free agent center fielder Ian Desmond, who was tendered a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers last week.
CAA Baseball co-heads Brodie Van Wagenen and Jeff Berry will lead the team representing him. He was formerly represented by Sports One Athlete Management.
Desmond is one of 10 free agents who received a qualifying offer from his former club. The deadline for him to decide to accept or reject it is today.
> HUMPHRIES ON ISE: Independent Sports & Entertainment has signed Atlanta Hawks forward Kris Humphries.
Dan Fegan, president of basketball, will represent Humphries. He was formerly represented by Wasserman. Fegan represented Humphries earlier in his career.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
